working life of women seventeenth century - School of Economics ...

AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE 85by his services. Petitions against this demand forsureties came before the Quarter Sessions. One fromRobert Vawter stated that he was " a poore Daylabourer about a quarter of a yere sithence came intothe said parish of Clutton, and there marryed with apoore Almesrrians Daughter, now liveing with her saidfather in the Almeshouse of Clutton aforesaid, andwould there settle himselfe with his said wife."Hewas ordered to find sureties or to go to gaol.'It was reported at Salford " Whereas Rich.Hudson is come lately into the towne with his wifeand ffoure children to Remaine that the Burrowreeveand Constables of this towne shall give noticeunto Henry Wrigley, Esq., upon whose land he stillremaynes that hee remove him and his wife and childrenout of this Towne within this moneth unlessehee give sufficient security upon the paine of ffivepou~ds.""Similar - ---- orders were made re Nathan Cauliffe, hiswife and three children, Robert Billingham with wifeand two children, Peter ffarrant and his wife, & RogerMarland and wife.Later the record continues, " andyet the said parties are not removed " order wastherefore made " that this order shalbee put inexe~ution."~ Another step in the proceedings isrecorded in the entry. " Whereas James Moores, GeorgeMoores and Adam Warmeingham stand bound untoHenry Wrigling Esq. in L20 for the secureinge theTowne from any poverty or disability which should ormight befall unto the said James, his wife, children, orfamily or any of them. And whereas it appeares thatthe said James Moores hath been Chargeable wherebythe said bond is become forfeit yet this Jury doth givethe said George Moores and Adam Warmeingham this'Somerset Q.S. Rec., Vol. II., p. 292, 1637-8.' Salford Portmote Records, Vol. II., p. rqq, 1655.'Ibid., p. 151, 1656.libtie that the said James shall remove out of this townebefore the next Court Leet."'Fines were exacted from those who harbouredunfortunate strangers without having first givensecurity for them, and no exception was made on thescore of relationship. James Meeke of Myddleton waspresented " for keeping of his daughter Ellen Meeke,having a husband dwelling in another place, and havingtwo children borne forth of the parishe."'Rules made at Steeple Ashton by the Churchwardensdeclare : " There hath much povertie happened untothis p'ish by receiving of strangers to inhabit thereand not first securing them ag7st such contingenciesand avoyding the like occasions in tyme to come,It is ordered by this vestrie that ev'ry p7son or p7sonswhatsoev'r w'ch shall lett or sett any houseinge ordwellinge to any stranger and shall not first give goodsecurite for defending and saving harmeless the saidinhabitants from the future charge as may happenby such stranger comeing to inhabite w'thin the saidp7ish and if any p'son shall doe to the contrary Itsagreed that such p'son soe receiving such stranger shalbe rated to the poor to 20s. monethlie over and abovehis monethlie tax."3The penalties at Reading were higher. " At thisdaye Wm. Porter, th7elder was questioned for harboringea straunger woman, and-a childe, vizt, the wief ofJohn Taplyn ; he worketh at Mr. Ed. Blagrave7sin Early : Confesseth. The woman saith she hathbyn there ever syns Michaellmas last, and payed rentto goodman Porter, xxs a yeare ; her kinsman Faringdondid take the house for them. Wm. Porter wasrequired to paye xs a weeke accordinge to the ordersand was willed to ridd his tenant with all speed upon' Salford Portmote Rec., Vol. II., p. 150.Torks. N.R. Q.S. Rec., Vol. I., p. 170, 1609.Wdts. Notes and Querres, Vol. VII., p. 281, 1664. Chtrrchwarden's Arci. Book.Steeple Asbton.